'Inflation to be at comfortable levels by Dec'

Inflation is coming down and it will cease to be an issue by December this year, chief statistician T C A Anant said on Friday.

"Inflation will cease to be an issue by end of this year (December 2010). It is coming down and all the economic indicators suggest that it will further come down.

"It would be difficult for me to say that by which month it would come down to a comfortable zone but it is sure that now, it will come down," Anant told PTI.

The wholesale price-based inflation, for the fourth month in a row, was in double-digits at 10.55 per cent in June due to rise in prices of certain manufactured items and hike in rates of petroleum products.

Food inflation softened to 9.53 per cent for the week ended July 24.

The issue of price rise has salready rocked the ongoing monsoon session.

On Thursday, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had said that inflation will come down by September and reach the comfortable level of 6 per cent by December.